Gulfstream American GA-7 Cougar
| GA-7 Cougar & TB 320 Tangara | |
|---|---|
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| Role | Personal and trainer aircraft |
| Manufacturer | Gulfstream American Aviation |
| First flight | Initial Grumman prototype 20 December 1974[1] Gulfstream production prototype 14 January 1977[2] |
| Introduction | February 1978 |
| Produced | 1978-1979 |
| Number built | 115 |
| Developed from | AA-5 series |
The Gulfstream American GA-7 Cougar is an American all-metal, 4-seat, twin-engined light aircraft.[1]
The Cougar was a twin-engine development of the Gulfstream American AA-5B Tiger and traces its lineage to the AA-1 Yankee Clipper and the Bede BD-1.
Contents |
[edit] Development
Following Gulfstream Aerospace’s purchase of Grumman’s American light aircraft division in 1977, the company embarked on a policy of aircraft model development. During this time the other aircraft in the line, including the AA-1B Trainer and the AA-5B Tiger underwent extensive redesign.
The aircraft line Gulfstream then fielded included the redesigned AA-1C Lynx two seater, the Gulfstream American AA-5A Cheetah and the Gulfstream American AA-5B Tiger single engine aircraft. The next obvious step was to develop the existing twin-engined version of the AA-5, which Grumman American had first flown as a prototype on 20 December 1974. Gulfstream did extensive redesign work on the former Grumman project and the Gulfstream production prototype did not fly until 14 January 1977.[2]
The Cougar uses the same honeycomb and bonded metal construction that is the hallmark of the line since the BD-1. The prototype's single spar wing was upgraded to a double-spar configuration and this allowed a wet wing. The resulting aircraft was designated the GA-7 (for Gulfstream American) and was given the name Cougar in keeping with the existing Lynx, Cheetah and Tiger names for aircraft in the company's line.[1]
The Cougar was intended for the flying school twin-engined trainer market and also as a personal use aircraft. The Cougar is powered by a pair of wing-mounted Lycoming O-320-D1D engines of 160 hp (119 kW). It carries four people at maximum cruise speed of 160 kn (296 km/h) and a typical cruise speed of 140 kn (259 km/h). It was certified under US FAR Part 23 on 22 September 1977.[1][2][3]
Production of the Cougar ran for only two model years, 1978 and 1979 before production was halted. Just 115 Cougars were delivered.[1][3]
In 1995 the type certificate for the GA-7 was sold to SOCATA of France who intended to develop the aircraft and produce it as the TB 320 Tangara. The Tangara was to be powered by two Lycoming O-360-A1G6 engines of 180 hp (134 kW) each. The first Tangara was a modified Cougar, had 160 hp (119 kW) engines and first flew in mid-1996. The complete Tangara prototype was also a converted Cougar and had the 180 hp (134 kW) engines. It first flew in February 1997. Despite SOCATA's plans to put the Tangara into production this never occurred.[1][3]
[edit] Variants
- GA7 Cougar
- 160 hp (119 kW) version designed by Grumman American and produced by Gulfstream American 1978-79. 115 built.[1]
- TB 320 Tangara
- 180 hp (134 kW) version redesigned by SOCATA. Three Cougars converted to Tangara prototypes 1996-97. Production was never started.[1]
[edit] Specifications (Gulfstream American GA-7 Cougar)
Data from Airliners.net[1], FAA Type Certificate[3], The Incomplete Guide to Airfoil Usage[4], Pilot's Operating Handbook[5] and Pilot Friend[6]
General characteristics
- Crew: one
- Capacity: three passengers
- Length: 28 ft 8 in (8.74 m)
- Wingspan: 36 ft 10 in (11.23 m)
- Height: 10 ft 4 in (3.15 m)
- Wing area: 184 sq ft (17.1 m2)
- Airfoil: NACA 63A415
- Empty weight: 2,569 lb (1,165 kg)
- Gross weight: 3,800 lb (1,724 kg)
- Powerplant: 2 × Lycoming O-320-D1D four cylinder, horizontally-opposed aircraft engines, 160 hp (120 kW) each
Performance
- Maximum speed: 168 kn (193 mph; 311 km/h)
- Cruise speed: 160 kn (180 mph; 300 km/h) true airspeed
- Stall speed: 63 kn (72 mph; 117 km/h) calibrated airspeed, flaps down
- Never exceed speed: 188 kn (216 mph; 348 km/h) indicated airspeed
- Minimum control speed: 61 kn (70 mph; 113 km/h) indicated airspeed
- Range: 1,170 nmi (1,350 mi; 2,170 km)
- Service ceiling: 17,400 ft (5,300 m)
- Rate of climb: 1,150 ft/min (5.8 m/s)
- Wing loading: 20.65 lb/sq ft (100.8 kg/m²)
- Power/mass: 11.9 lb/hp (0.14 kg/kW)
[edit] See also
- Related development
- Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Demand Media (2009). "The Socata Tangara & Gulfstream GA7". http://www.airliners.net/aircraft-data/stats.main?id=369. Retrieved 2009-12-28.
- ^ a b c Wood, Derek: Jane's World Aircraft Recognition Handbook, page 233. Jane's Publishing Company, 1982. ISBN 0 7106 0202 2
- ^ a b c d Federal Aviation Administration (March 2007). "TYPE CERTIFICATE DATA SHEET NO. A17SO". http://www.airweb.faa.gov/Regulatory_and_Guidance_Library/rgMakeModel.nsf/0/B2CEC2BAFD278D88862572A00056C584?OpenDocument&Highlight=ga-7. Retrieved 2008-07-02.
- ^ Lednicer, David (October 2007). "The Incomplete Guide to Airfoil Usage". http://www.ae.uiuc.edu/m-selig/ads/aircraft.html. Retrieved 2009-12-30.
- ^ Gulfstream Aerospace (October 1978). "Pilot's Operating Handbook". http://www.88thservices.com/pdf/cougarflightmanual.pdf. Retrieved 2009-12-31.
- ^ Pilot Friend (undated). "Grumman GA-7 Cougar performance and specifications". http://www.pilotfriend.com/aircraft%20performance/Grumman/8.htm. Retrieved 2009-12-30.
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